Definitions for "Pre-approved"
Conditional approval for a mortgage loan. Generally a home buyer has been approved for a loan subject only to the preliminary title report and property appraisal.
A person who has passed the preliminary screening for the credit card. The person will still need to have their credit checked.
A credit offer with a "Pre-approved" status means that a potential customer has passed the preliminary credit-information screening necessary to obtain credit with the creditor.